Some stores here play the same songs all day--and play them loudly. Employees say shifts have become unbearable.

"To listen to it for eight hours a day is not healthy, that's for sure," said Alexandr Leiner, a union leader. Leiner said unions have written to major chains, such as Tesco, and demanded that employees be compensated. He said the unions want $19 or two days off as a possible compensation. They've received no response.